Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning head is provided having a casing with a rotatably mounted cleaning brush associated with a brush opening and a drying roller operable in a drying mode. In the drying mode, the drying roller removes water from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush. The surface cleaning head also has a water collection container positioned to receive water removed from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush by the drying roller.

1 . A surface cleaning head comprising:
 (a) a casing having a rotatably mounted cleaning brush associated with a brush opening;   (b) a drying roller operable in a drying mode wherein, in the drying mode, the drying roller removes water from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush; and,   (c) a water collection container positioned to receive water removed from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush by the drying roller.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  wherein, in the drying mode, the drying roller is in a drying position in which the drying roller contacts the rotatably mounted cleaning brush and the drying roller is moveable to an inoperable position in which the drying roller is spaced from the drying position. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  wherein, in the drying mode, the drying roller is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted cleaning brush. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 3  further comprising a drive motor that is drivingly connected to the drying roller and, in the drying mode, the drying roller contacts the rotatably mounted cleaning brush whereby the drying roller drives the rotatably mounted cleaning brush due to the contact between the drying roller and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 3  wherein the drying roller has first engagement members and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush has second engagement members that are engageable with the first engagement members whereby upon rotation of the drying roller, the engagement of the first and second engagement members induces the rotatably mounted cleaning brush to rotate. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  wherein, in the drying mode, the drying roller also debrides the rotatably mounted cleaning brush. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  wherein, in the drying mode, at least one of the drying roller and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush is heated. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  wherein the water collection container is removably mounted in the casing. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning fluid applicator which provides a cleaning fluid to at least one of the drying roller and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 9  wherein the cleaning fluid applicator delivers a heated cleaning fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning fluid applicator and the surface cleaning head is operable in a cleaning mode in which the cleaning fluid applicator delivers a cleaning fluid and the drying roller is inoperable whereby cleaning fluid remains on the floor. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 11  wherein, in the drying mode, the drying roller is in a drying position in which the drying roller contacts the rotatably mounted cleaning brush and, in the cleaning mode, the drying roller is moveable to an inoperable position in which the drying roller is spaced from the drying position and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush is rotated. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning fluid applicator and the surface cleaning head is operable in a cleaning mode in which the cleaning fluid applicator delivers a cleaning fluid and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush is in a brush off mode. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 13  further comprising a drive motor wherein when the drive motor is energized, the rotatable mounted cleaning brush rotates and wherein, in the cleaning mode, the drive motor is deenergized. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning fluid applicator and the surface cleaning head is operable in a cleaning mode in which the cleaning fluid applicator delivers a cleaning fluid and the rotatable mounted cleaning brush is raised above a surface on which the surface cleaning head is positioned. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 1  further comprising a drive roller that is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted cleaning brush. 
     
     
         17 . A surface cleaning head comprising:
 (a) a casing having a rotatably mounted cleaning brush associated with a brush opening; and,   (b) a drying roller operable in a drying mode wherein, in the drying mode, the drying roller removes water from the rotatably mounted cleaning brush and wherein the drying roller is drivingly connected to the rotatably mounted cleaning brush.   
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 17  wherein, in the drying mode, at least one of the drying roller and the rotatably mounted cleaning brush is heated. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 15  further comprising a cleaning fluid applicator and the surface cleaning head is operable in a cleaning mode in which a cleaning fluid is provided to the floor and remains on the floor in the absence of being removed by the cleaning brush. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning head of  claim 19  wherein the cleaning fluid applicator delivers a heated cleaning fluid that has a temperature of at least 55° C.